Sex abuse suspect held overseas

A former Maui resident sought on charges of sexually molesting two minors is awaiting extradition proceedings in Manila after being arrested by Philippine immigration agents.

Reynaldo Estillore, 48, was arrested Nov. 15 in Bauang town, about 140 miles north of Manila.

He faces trial on Maui on 46 felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly molesting two minors.

The Philippine-born Estillore fled immediately after being indicted by a Maui grand jury, said deputy Maui County Prosecutor Jerrie Sheppard. The charges involve incidents that occurred over the course of more than a year, she said.

He formerly lived in Lahaina and was employed by a supermarket, the prosecutor said.

The U.S. Embassy and the FBI had requested Estillore's arrest and deportation after being tipped off that he had fled to the Philippines in January with his 5-year-old daughter, according to information from the Philippine Immigration Bureau.

Estillore did not resist arrest when immigration agents approached him along a busy Bauang street after he brought his daughter to school, an arresting officer told the Associated Press. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity, citing policy.

Estillore's Hawaii driver's license indicated he was from Lahaina, the officer said.

Estillore is awaiting deportation at the immigration detention center in Manila, the government statement said. His daughter has been turned over to social workers, who have contacted Estillore's relatives in Bauang, the immigration officer said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Reynaldo Estillore, left, spoke yesterday to Philippine Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan at a detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig city. Estillore is awaiting deportation to Hawaii, where he is charged with 46 counts of sexual assault for allegedly molesting two minors.

Writers group hosts meeting

The public is invited to join the Honolulu Chapter of the National Writers Association at its Dec. 4 meeting at 7 p.m. in Borders bookstore at Ward Centre.

Anyone who would like to participate should bring at least 10 copies of one manuscript for a critique. Manuscripts should be five pages or less, double-spaced and written on one side of the page.

For more information, call Robert Tanouye at 845-9585.

Contests promote clean water

The city is holding two contests for Earth Month in April to increase awareness on the importance of preserving the state's water resources.

The second annual Earth Month Teen Video Contest will feature videos from 12 intermediate and high schools targeted toward young people to protect and improve local waters. The videos will play on KHON in March and April and on KGMB, KITV and at satellite city halls in April.

A new competition, the Everyday Environmental Hero Photo Essay Contest, will be judge based on photos illustrating water pollution prevention accompanied by a 100-word essay.

Winning photos will be displayed at Kapolei Hale and the city's Earth Month newspaper in March and at the city's Small Business Resource Center on Nuuanu Avenue in April.

Deadline for the contests is Feb. 1. Winners will be announced on March 17. More information and entry forms are available at www.cleanwaterhonolulu.com.

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff

WINDWARD OAHU

Spill in golf cart puts girl in hospital

A 17-year-old Kahuku girl was critically injured yesterday afternoon when the golf cart she was driving overturned in Kahuku.

Police said the girl was operating the red 1997 Yamaha golf cart on Pualalea Street when she tried to turn right onto Makaiau Place. Police said she lost control of the cart and overturned at about 2:18 p.m.

She was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.

Police said speed was a factor in the accident.

The cart was not equipped with seat belts or air bags, police said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Grave desecration spurs investigation

Big Island police are asking for help in finding the people who desecrated an ancestral burial site sometime between Sept. 23 and Oct. 24 in Waimea.

Tombstones at the Koki Kihoi grave site were vandalized with graffiti, including a swastika and the word "DIE" painted in red.

Police have opened a criminal property damage investigation.

The burial site is located off Pukalani Road in Waimea, next to North Hawaii Community Hospital, police said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Regino Saludares at 326-4646, ext. 277, or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

Anonymous calls can be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

WEST OAHU

Purse theft brings confrontation, bust

Police arrested a 41-year-old woman who allegedly stole a purse from a 29-year-old woman in Waikele.

Police said the younger woman had momentarily left her purse unattended, and it was stolen at about 2 a.m. yesterday.

When the woman called her credit card company to report the theft, she was told the card had just been used at a nearby store.

A 24-year-old man, who was with the victim, went to the store where the card was used, and found the suspect allegedly with the other woman's purse, police said.

The man tried to detain the suspect, but the woman allegedly punched him in the face, police said.

A bystander helped to hold the suspect, and police arrested the woman on suspicion of second-degree theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and third-degree assault.

CENTRAL OAHU

DVD robbery ends with drug charge

The suspect allegedly took cash and a DVD player from the other man's bag at about 7:15 a.m. yesterday, police said. He allegedly threatened to hit the victim when the victim demanded his things back, police said.

Police later found the suspect at his home. He was identified and arrested for investigation of second-degree robbery and drug offenses.

The suspect also had in his possession a glass pipe and what appeared to be methamphetamine, police said.

Police did not recover the stolen items.

HONOLULU

Bar patron serves knife to the neck

Police arrested a 56-year-old man for allegedly stabbing another man in the neck Wednesday night.

At about 9:30 p.m. a 61-year-old man was drinking in a bar at 1414 Dillingham Blvd. with his brother. Police said the man was interrupted by the suspect and told him to mind his own business. The suspect became upset and allegedly stabbed the victim in the neck with a small pocketknife.

Bar patrons subdued and detained the suspect until the arrival of police, who arrested him on suspicion of second-degree assault. The victim was hospitalized but was treated and released.